French tourist shatters leg after falling into water at Bronte Beach
Emergency services have pulled off a daring night-time rescue of a French tourist who fell into the ocean at Bronte Beach, fracturing his leg. The 38-year-old man and the police officers who initially came to his rescue had to be winched to safety. SEE THE VIDEO
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Only 10 days into his Australian holiday, a French tourist was winched from rocks to safety at Bronte Beach after falling into the water and fracturing his leg in the middle of the night.
Police were called to the southern end of the beach about 1.45am on Boxing Day after a local resident heard the 38-year-old man screaming for help about 50m offshore.
“It appears he may have been in the water for up to half an hour before that resident heard his cries for help,” Acting Inspector Peter Wilkes said on Thursday.
The man managed to drag himself onto rocks below a cliff but had to be winched to safety by a helicopter crew after seriously injuring his legs.
Police officers saw the man had a serious compound fracture to his left leg and cuts to his right leg.
Two police officers who climbed down to him and carried him out of the reach of waves also had to be winched to safety after they were cut off by the rising tide.
“Those officers placed their own safety at risk to rescue this man and they should be commended for their actions,” Insp Wilkes said.
The tourist was treated at Prince of Wales Hospital, where he was in a stable condition.
He told police he fell into the sea near the Bronte Baths and may have been in the water up to 30 minutes before he managed to get ashore.
The NSW Ambulance Toll Helicopter was called to help rescue the man, with police and paramedics helping winch him to safety.